Line tightener



Jam., a, 3%@ M. E. LAWRENCE 214969249 LINE TGHTENER Filed Jan. 29, 1946Patented Jan. 3l, 1950 UHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINE TIGHTENER Marion E. Lawrence, Long Beach, Calif., assignmto HarmonE, Farr, Long Beach, Calif.

Application January 29, 1946, Serial No. 644,075

(Cl. 25d-161) 2 Claims. l

This invention relates to line tightening and holding devices andparticularly to an improved device for adjustably tensioning lines,ropes, cables and the like to maintain them taut.

One object of the present invention is to provide a line tensioning andholding device having a rotary Winding member adapted to receive the endof a line and to be readily rotated to wind up the line and apply thedesired degree of tension thereto.

Another object is to provide a line tensioning and holding device havingautomatic means for retaining the rotary member in adjusted position toprevent retrogressive movement thereof and so maintain the line taut.

Another object is to provide a device of ythe type indicated comprisinga frame member adapted to be mounted against a line support, a windingmember rotatable on said frame and to which an end of a line is secured,and angularly related handles slidably carried by said winding memberfor rotating the winding member to Wind the line thereon, said handlesbeing adapted to automatically and successively engage said support toprevent reverse rotation of the winding member.

Another object is to provide a device .of the type indicated adapted forfuse in tensioning various types of lines and cables and one which maybe mounted in several Ways with Aor without the use of separatefasteningmeans. l

VAnother objectiswto provide a Hdevice of4 the type indicated whichmayloe applied -to use with its rotary winding member arranged eitherhorizontally or vertically so 'that lines 'maybe ten'- sioned betweenvertical posts' or horizontal supiporting arms.

Another object is tol provide adevice of the type indicated which iscomposed of a minimum number of parts adapted for economical manufactureand convenient' assembly without the use of screws, rivets or otherextraneous parts, and one which isA proof against derangement andgetting out of order. 4

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following part ofthe specification which describes the line tightening and holding deviceas embodied in a preferred form of construction, by way of example, andas illustrated bythe accompanying drawing. Referring to the drawing,which is for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a line tightening and holding deviceembodying the novel features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device showing it applied to awall or other at surface for tensioning a line between the wall and aline support remotely spaced therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a part-sectional front elevational view oi the device showingthe means for mounting the rotary line-winding member and indicating themanner in which the end of the line is attached to said winding member;and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device, taken on the line 4 4 ofFig. 3, showing the device applied to use in tensioning a line between atubular support and a point removed therefrom.

In supporting ropes, cables and the like, such as those used forclotheslines, tennis and badminton net lines, arbors and fences, andradio antennae it is desirable to tension said lines to maintain themtaut. Various devices have been employed for tensioning such lines, onecommonly used type consistingof a manually rotatable drum or reeltowhich one end of the line is: attached to be Wound up thereon when thedrum is rotated. In such devices a pawl and ratchet means is usuallyprovided for preventing reverse rotation of the drum and sagging of theline. In another similar wind-up device, the winding drum isautomatically rotated by means of a helical wind-up spring to maintainthe line taut. Such prior line tensioning devices are complicated inconstruction, being composed of a relatively large number of parts whichare subject to wear and breakage.` When such devices are usedoutof-doors and exposed to the weather their parts soon rust anddeteriorate to render the devices unsuitablemior use, MOreOVer, priordevices of these types are unsuited for use with steel cables, such asare used :for radio antennae, electric fences and clotheslines and whichrequire a relatively high degree o f tension to maintain them taut.Furthermore, these devices are limited in use inasmuch as they must besecured to a flat surface and cannot be fastened to circular posts orother line supports having irregular contours. To overcome the faults ofthese devices, it has been the practice to use turnbuckles fortensioning cables and other lines. While turnbuckles provide eicientmeans for tightening mostl lines, they occupy space in the line whichcould otherwise be utilized to advantage and When the line has stretchedto a length which cannot be readily taken up by the turnbuckle it is theusual practice to disconnect the turnbuckle from the line, sever alength from the line and again attach the end of the line to the eye ofthe turnbuckle. A further disadvantage of the conventional clotheslineturnbuchles is that they provide, at the most, only several inches oftake-up for the line. AS is well known, turnbuckles are located in andform, in eect, a part of the line and thus it is usually necessary toprovide screw-eyes or similar fastening means which are fastened to theline supporting structure and to which one end oi the turnbuckle, or alength of cable extending from the turnbuckle, is secured.

The present invention was conceived as a means for obviating the faultsof previously used devices. The improved device comprises, in general, asubstantially U-shaped frame member adapted for attachment to a lineSupport and having a base and side members Vprojecting from said base. Acylindrical winding member is rotatably mounted in the side members andemployed for winding up and tensioning the line which is attachedthereto. One or more handles are sliclably mounted .on the windingmember to 'facilitate manual rotation thereof, said handle or 'handlesbeing `adapted to engage against the line support or against means onthe frame member to Aretain the winding member in any position ofadjustment.

Referring to the drawing, my improved line tightening and holding devicecomprises a substantially U-s'haped frame member Vhaving a base portionl which 'is Vrecessed on one side to provide spaced upads or eet i andhaving spaced side ,members or arms S and S 'projecting from theopposite 'side oi the base portion. The base portion ,6 of .the frame.member 5 is provided with a Centrally .disposed rectangular opening lb,and

a kpair 'oi holes ll for receiving vmounting screws or bolts. The sidemembers S and t ofthe frame member ii `have aligned bearing apertures l2'for rotatably receiving a 'winding member 55.

The winding member t5, which is shown Vmost clearly in Fig. 3,Vcomprises a cylindrical rod or shaft hav-ing 4bearing portions itrotatably mounted in the bearing apertures fl 2 -oi the frame member 5and having 1a central reduced lportion i7 around 'which the wire cableAor Aothf-:r line V'|18 is :adapted to be wound. the `winding member iiiproject llaterally beyond the Aside members '3 and 9 of the frame 5Vandrone .of the ends t9 is 'enlarged slightly i-n yd-ia-n'ieter,thereby Iproviding a shoulder '2i which `abuts the side member 53 of thetrame. A hole 2d extends through `the member :iii rom the reducedportion if? Vto "the lprojecting 4end It at an ang-le -to the axis ofthe member l5, the "hole serving as the means for attaching 'the lend of`the cable o; ine i3 to the winding member in -a manner to be laterexplained.

'Holes i 'extend dia-metrically through the pro- 'ecting ends le and 2e-o the member l5, atright angl-es to each other, 'for the purpose oi'receiving operating rods -or handles 2 and The handles 2i and 23 aredapped or -iattened adjacent their ends, after being inserted throughthe holes 125, to provide projections 129 for retainingthe handlesinplace while permit 'ng sliding :movement theren 'of in the'holes 25.It will be seen by reference to Fig. -3 that the rotar7 winding memberIii is held against axial displacement in 4one direction through theengagement oi its shoulder 'iii which abuts the side member of the trame5, and against axial Ymaw-ement in the opposite direction -by the handle2% which is positioned adjacent the side member A3 of the frame.

The improved line holding and tensioning de" vice is applied to use inthe manner neX-t ex plained. Assuming that a l-ine or cable isto ex- Thelends l .it vof ."f

tend between a post or other support, not herein shown, and the side oia building or other nat object, represented by the dot-and-dash lines 32in l and 2, the device may be mounted against the outer surface ci thebuilding and fastened in place by screws 33 passing through the holes ilof the base 6 and screwed into the side `o the building. With the devicethus secured in place, the end lof the line E is threaded through thehole 25 of the winding member I5 and the end of the line which projectsthrough 'the hole 2Q is preferably left intact for future usebnt, ifdesired, it may be cut off the line tightened as next explained.

"lowind up ythe 'line I il and apply tension there to, the handles 2land 32S are successiveiy turned 'to rotate lthe winding mcrnhe.` S5 tocause the line ,to .be wound on its central portion il. It will beobserved from the drawing that the distance between the side of thebuilding 32 or other relatively aft support and -the a of the windingmember considerably less than the length of `the handles 2l and 28 soAthat each handle kmay 'successively' 'tur-ned 1h/rough approximately 1e'ty ldegrees to wind a Quarter turn of the line the winding member i5.Stated another way, as each 'handle is turned from -a substantial-lyvertical to a substantiai-ly `hori zonta'l position, l'the other handle'will -be moved from a substantially horizontal to a substantiallyvertical position, each 'handle slid-ing its hole 25 to permit suchturning movement. As each handle A27 :or Z approaches .a substantiallyverw tical :position it will slide downward-ly its hole 25 under theinnuence foi" fgravlityrso that one ol @the handles vwill always be in a.depending posin 'tion Lto adapt it 4to engage :against the 'wall 32,I.or yother line support, to .prevent reverse rotation :of I:the windingmember "i-: .and u2 inding o `:the iline l.

1 illustrates the .line vI8 4attached to the winding member I5 byinitially winding it thereon in counter-clockwise direction, lit beingwunder# Istood that 'the vother end of vsaid line is suitably joined *toanother remotely spaced line support, not herein shown. It will beobserved that one handle 21 extends substantially horizontally -f-romthe winding member 'l5 while the other 'handle "2B-extends downwardlyfrom the member in position to cause its lower end to engage against`the wall 32 or other line support to prevent rotation of the ywindingmember in clockwise vdirection which 'would cause the lin-e i8 to unwindtherefrom. To tension the Iline IB, the handle 23 -is grasped b y ltheYoperator and `turned through an angle yof approximately ninety degreesto Vwind a quarter turn of the line IS upon the winding member '15whereupon the other 'handle '21, .which 'has 'been `turned tosubstantially vertical position willslide .downwardlyiin its bearinghole25 under the influence nf ,gravity to the `position shown'by full linesinFig. .2. The handle 27 is then used as the means for rotating thewinding .member LT. .through the .next ninety degrees .and .as thishandle .is lmoved to :a substantially horizontal position .the`otherhandle 2i! will approach a sub- ,stantially vertical position andslide downwardly .inlitsbearing hole 25. Ceiling of the line i8 upon the'winding member may lhe continued by .alternately turningthe .handles:2J and -28 and .as each .handleiis turned, the ,other handle will beautomatically Ymoved into :a `.position wherein its lower end engagesthe line support 32 to prevent vreverse rotation `rof the member I5 asshown by `the avisame full lines in Fig. i and the dot-and-dash lines 35in Fig. 2. It is thus seen that the handles Z'l and 28 act automaticallyand positively to check rotation of the winding member I5 to maintainthe propel' tension and prevent unwinding of the line I8. If the linestretches during use it may be tightened by rotating the winding memberin the manner above explained. On the other hand, if it is necessary torelieve the tension applied to the line I8 or to remove the line fromthe winding member l5 the member may be rotated in reverse direction byalternately sliding the handles 2! and 28 upwardly in their bearingholes 25 and turning them in clockwise direction.

When the device is to be used on a tubular line support such as thatindicated at 36 in Fig. 4, holes 3T! are drilled through the support andthe line 3B, indicated by dot-and-dash lines, threaded through theholes. The 4support 36 may constitute a vertical post or the crossarm ofa clothesline support and in either case the line tightening device isplaced against the opposite side of the support with its pads 1 engagingthe periphery thereof as shown in Fig. 4. The line 38 may then be passedthrough the rectangular opening it and attached to the winding member I5in the manner previously explained. .As the member l5 is rotated incounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, the line 38 will becoiled thereon to be tensioned and the handles 2'! and 28 willsuccessively and automatically engage against the periphery of thetubular support 36 as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines 39 in Fig. 4to prevent reverse rotation of the member and unwinding of the line. Itwill be noted from the above that when the line tensioning device isapplied to use on a tubular line support the tension of the line servesto hold the device in place and thus the employment of screws, bolts orthe like is unnecessary. It is also apparent that the frame member 5will be shifted circumferentially of the tubular line support 38 due totension in the line 38, as shown in Fig. 4, so that greater supportisprovided at the side of the device opposite to the point of winding tocounteract the torsional force applied against the handles 2'! and 28during the winding operation. The device may be used in a similar mannerwhen a line is to be secured to the side wall of a building by firstdrilling a small hole in the side wall and inserting the line throughthe hole. The device is then placed against the interior of the sidewall and the end of the line attached to the winding member i5, afterwhich the line may be wound on the member by alternately .operating thehandles 2l and 28 Vin the manner previously explained. Thus, the linetightening device may be applied to use without the necessity offastening it in place by means of screws, bolts or the like.

It will be observed from the foregoing that my invention provides anextremely simple, yet highly efficient line tensioning and holdingdevice. The device is composed of a minimum number of parts with theframe member and winding member adapted to be manufactured asdie-castings and the operating handles made from rod stock. The partsare assembled without the use of screws. rivets or other extraneousparts liable to become broken to render the device useless. The diecastparts are resistant to rust and corrosion and the operating handles aresuitably plated so that the device may be used out-of-doors withoutdanger of rusting. 'Ihe device is exceptionally strong and durable andespecially adapted for 6. use in tightening wire cables which areusually subjected to considerable tension to maintain'A them taut, itbeing noted that the rotative force' applied to the winding memberthrough the operating handles is sufficient to exert considerable pullon the line.

As a particular feature of improvement, the present invention provides avery ecient means for retaining the winding member in adjusted positionto prevent reverse movement of the winding member and unwinding of theline therefrom. By utilizing the operating handles for this purpose thenecessity of providing complicated pawl and ratchet mechanism or similarrotation checking devices, subject to wear and breakage,`

is entirely avoided. However, it is within the concept of my inventionto provide suitable stoplugs or pins on the side arms 8 and 9 of theframe member 5 which are engageable with the handles 2'! and 28 toprevent reverse rotation of the winding member l5. The device isextremely easy to operate and when the line becomes stretched in use, itmay be re-tightened by merely turning the operating handles. Thus, it isunnecessary to disconnect the line from the device and cut a lengththerefrom. Moreover, the device takes up very little of the length ofthe line when interposed between the line supports and none of thelength of line when applied against the reverse side of a line supportso that the maximum length of line may be utilized for the purpose forwhich it is intended. In most cases the device may be installed withoutscrews or other fastening means and thus may be easily and quicklyapplied to use.

My improved line tightening device may be used as a means for tighteningclotheslines, tennis and badminton net lines, the wires of arbore, wirefences, radio antennae, guy wires, and other lines or straps or flexiblemembers wherein a relatively high degree of tension is desirable, and,accordingly, wherever I use the term line herein I intend to cover anysuch flexible member.

It is also to be noted that the drawing shows a commercial form of myline-tightening device in approximate full size, and that the reducedportion I1 of the winding means l5 in effect constitutes a drum ofsubstantial circumference. This permits a relatively great length ofline to be wound thereon, which is an advantage over conventionalturnbuckles. For example, several feet of relatively heavy gauge wiremay be wound on the winding means l5, to provide sufficient take-up foreven relatively long lines of stretchable material, such as softgalvanized wire.

While the improved line-tensioning and holding device has been hereinshown and described as embodied in a preferred form of construction byway of example, I do not intend to be limited to the specific disclosurecontained herein since.

various changes, modications, and substitutions may be incorporated inthe exemplary embodiment disclosed without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, and I hereby reserve the right to all such changes,modifications, and substitutions as properly come within the scope of myappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for tensioning a line between a line support and a pointremote therefrom, comprising: a U-shaped frame member including amounting portion adapted to be disposed against the line support, andspaced arms projecting from said mounting portion, said arms beingprovided with circular bearing apertures; a drum menlber rotatable insaid apertures Ywith its ends projecting beyond said arms, one of saidends having an enlarged portion, and each of said ends having adiametrieal hole, said drum member having a hole for receiving the endof said line to secure said line thereto; and elongated handle membersslidable in said diametrical holes and provided with means forpreventing their withdrawal from said diametriea-l holes, said handlemembers being alternately slid downwardly in the diametrical holes underthe influence of gravity during rotation of said drum member to engageagainst lthe line support to prevent reverse rotation of said drummember, said enlarged portion at one end of said drum member and thehandle member at the other end of said drum member being adapted toautomatically engage said arms to retain said drum member in saidbearing apertures.

2. A device for tensioning a line between a substantially circular linesupport and a point remote therefrom, comprising: a U-shaped framemember including a mounting portion adapted to be disposed against theline support and having pads engageable against the periphery or" theline support, and spaced arms projecting from said mounting portion,said arms having aligned, circular bearing apertures; a drum memberrotatable in said apertures with its ends projecting beyond said arms,one of said ends having a head and each of said ends having adiametrical hole,

said drum member yhaving a hole for receiving the end of said line tosecure said line thereto; and elongated handle members slidable in saiddia-P metrical holes and provided with proections at their ends forpreventing their Withdrawal from said diametrical holes, said handlemembers being alternately slid downwardly in the diametrical holes underthe influence of gravity during rotation of said drum member toautomatically engage against the line support to prevent reverserotation of said drum member, said head at said one of said ends of saiddrum member engaging against one of said arms to prevent Ylongitudinalmovement of said drum member in one direction, and the handle member atthe other end of said drum Ymember engaging against the other of saidarms to prevent longitudinal movement of said drum member in theopposite direction.

MARION E. LANRENCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 327,126 Walker Sept. 29, 1885331,421 Melins Dec. 1,1885 473,899 Berdan May 3, 1892 780,822 Shaw Jan.24, 199,5

